Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
Fortuitous Events and Employee Dismissal: When Absences Are Excusable
The Supreme Court ruled that absences caused by fortuitous events like flooding cannot justify dismissal, protecting workers' labor rights.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Ombudsman Decisions Can Be Reviewed by Courts
Supreme Court clarifies when final Ombudsman rulings may still be challenged through certiorari, using a neglect-of-duty case as guide.
Res Judicata and Property Disputes: Why a Final Judgment Bars a Second Suit
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how res judicata prevents relitigation of property ownership after a final judgment.
Employer's Liability for Diligence in Employee Supervision After a Vehicular Accident
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employer liability and the standard of diligence required in supervising employees after a vehicular accident.
Tenant vs Caretaker: When Fishpond Watching Does Not Create Tenancy Rights
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the line between agricultural tenant and mere caretaker, and why intent and consent matter in tenancy.
Military Pension and Citizenship: The Parreño Ruling on PD 1638
Retired AFP officers who lose Filipino citizenship can have their pensions terminated under PD 1638, as upheld in Parreño v. COA.
When Can Foreign Corporations Sue in the Philippines? A Guide
Learn when unlicensed foreign corporations can sue in Philippine courts under the Corporation Code and Foreign Investments Act.
Treachery and Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Convictions
How credible eyewitness testimony and treachery shape murder convictions in the Philippines, with lessons from People v. Dulanas.
INP Retirees Entitled to PNP Retirement Benefits Under R.A. 6975
Supreme Court rules INP retirees are entitled to the same retirement benefits as PNP retirees under R.A. 6975, as amended.
Credibility of Child Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible child witness testimony, explaining delay in reporting and denial defenses.
Formal Offer of Evidence: Why Failure Can End a Land Ownership Case
A missed deadline to formally offer evidence can doom a land dispute. Learn the rule from Heirs of Pasag v. Parocha.
Easement Reduction on Urban Land: Balancing Public Land Rules and Development
When a free-patent lot becomes urban private land, the river easement may shrink from 40 meters to 3 meters.
Law Students as Agents in Inferior Courts: The Cruz v. Mina Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a law student may appear in inferior courts without lawyer supervision, and the civil aspect of grave threats.
Attorney Negligence and the Limits of Relief from Judgment in Philippine Courts
When a lawyer's mistake costs a client the case, relief from judgment is not always available. This decision explains the limits.
Lawyer Suspended for Contracting Second Marriage While First Was Subsisting
A lawyer's second marriage while his first remained valid led to a one-year suspension, underscoring lawyers' duty to know the law.
Upholding Ethical Standards: One-Year Suspension for Lawyer's Bigamous Marriage
A municipal legal officer's second marriage while his first subsists violates lawyer ethics. The Supreme Court explains why.
Independent Damage Claims in Forcible Entry: Separating Possession From Subsequent Harm
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when damages from forcible entry may be claimed in a separate ordinary action rather than the ejectment case.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Unexpected Assaults and the Denial Defense in Philippine Jurisprudence
How Philippine courts treat denial and alibi defenses in rape cases, and why the victim's credible testimony prevails.
Accountability in the Judiciary: Prompt Action on Orders and Court Efficiency
A Supreme Court ruling on judge accountability for delayed decisions and defiance of court orders, and what it means for court efficiency.
Party-List Proportionality: The Veterans Formula After CIBAC v. COMELEC
The Supreme Court clarifies the correct formula for computing additional party-list seats, reaffirming the Veterans ruling in CIBAC v. COMELEC.
When Jurisdiction Attaches: The Ombudsman vs. DECS in Public School Teacher Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies which agency has jurisdiction over administrative cases against public school teachers, explaining the limits of the Ombudsman's disciplinary authority.
Good Faith in Property Transactions: Protecting Innocent Purchasers Under the Torrens System
When a notarized special power of attorney turns out forged, who keeps the land? The Supreme Court explains good faith under the Torrens system.
Rape and the Best Evidence Rule: Proving Minority in Statutory Rape Cases
A father convicted of qualified rape challenges the death penalty, claiming the victim's minority was not proven. The Supreme Court explains how a photocopied birth certificate can establish age.
Dismissal for Prolonged AWOL Upholds Public Service Accountability
Court employee dropped from rolls after prolonged AWOL. The ruling affirms strict accountability for public servants.